BSc (Hons) Podiatry

Choose the only UK podiatry course with four years of clinical practice. You’ll learn advanced practical skills on weekly placements. You’ll graduate ready to register as a podiatrist and begin a rewarding and flexible healthcare career.

As a podiatrist, every day you’ll help people. Your patients will count on you to help them with a broad range of mobility and medical conditions of the foot and the lower limb. These will include muscular and locomotory problems as well as broader health issues such as diabetes, arthritis, heart and blood disorders and disorders of the nervous system.

See the foot of the page for some student case studies/ staff profiles

Why QMU?

About the course

As a podiatrist, every day you’ll help people. Your patients will count on you to help them with a broad range of mobility and medical conditions of the foot and the lower limb. These will include muscular and locomotory problems as well as broader health issues such as diabetes, arthritis, heart and blood disorders and disorders of the nervous system.

On this course you’ll gain the knowledge, practical skills and confidence that you’ll need to practise as a registered podiatrist in the NHS or private sector.

You’ll study a range of modules each year and attend weekly placements in podiatry clinics where you will be involved in the treatment of podiatry patients. There’s no substitute for learning in a clinical setting and your placements will begin in the very first semester. QMU staff and NHS clinical staff will work with you as you care for patients and learn this specialist healthcare profession.

In Year Four you will study additional modules relevant for practice and you will also have additional external NHS placements. During Year Four you will also carry out group audits and experience working in clinical specialisms.

We have implemented an interprofessional education (IPE) focus within all of our undergraduate healthcare courses, including this one, to help produce graduates who are confident in their own professional identity but with additional skills that will allow them to work as effective team members.

Structure

This is a four-year, full-time honours degree. You will complete a range of modules each year, as outlined, and a dissertation in Year Four.

Teaching, learning and assessment

You will be taught in lectures, seminars, practical workshops and laboratories. Outside these timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning through self-study. You will be assessed by written exams at the end of each module or semester. >>Click for more information on 'Learning, Teaching and Assessment' - Please note that this is information relating to entry in 2019. Information for 2020 entry is not yet available.

Modules

Year One

Cell Biology and Physiology

Microbiology

Communicating and Facilitating Change

Clinical Studies 1

Disorders and Management 1

Foundation Skills for Health Professionals (IPE1)

Evidence-based Healthcare (EBHC) 1: Making Online Resources Work for You

Locomotory Science 1 — Anatomy

Locomotory Science 1 — Principles of Gait

Manual Handling

Year Two

Human Physiology and Pharmacology

Locomotory Science 2 – Anatomy

Locomotory Science 2 – Normal Gait

EBHC2: Informing Practice Through Evidence

Pathophysiology

Clinical Studies 2

Disorders and Management 2

Professional Roles and Interprofessional Teamwork (IPE2)

Year Three

Clinical Studies 3

Dermatology of the Lower Limb

Disorders and Management 3

EBHC3: Appraising the Evidence

Interprofessional Working and Person Centred Care (IPE3)

Locomotory Science 3 – Anatomy

Locomotory Science 3 – Pathological Gait

Professional Issues — Professionalism

Year Four

Clinical Studies 4

Developing Resources for Patient Education

Disorders and Management 4 – Tissue Viability

EBHC4: Clinical Audit

Political and Social Contexts (IPE4)

Professional Issues – Preparation for Registration and Practice

plus one module from Podiatric Mechanics OR Medicine and Pathology

The modules listed here are correct at time of posting (Feb 2019) but will differ to those offered in 2020 following a revalidation in Spring 2020. Please check back here for any updates.

Placements

You’ll consolidate your theoretical learning with clinical placements working directly with patients. In Year One you will have a half day NHS placement every week. In Year Two you will have two to three half day NHS placements each week over the year. In Years Three and Four you will have weekly and block placements in a variety of NHS settings. Academic staff will arrange and co-ordinate your placement.

Exchange opportunities

N/A

Careers

You’ll be able to register as a professional podiatrist and begin your career. From there, it’s up to you which path you take. There are excellent clinical opportunities in the NHS and in private practice. You could move on to do postgraduate research or even set up in business on your own. Our alumni are enjoying careers in community clinics, sports medicine, foot surgery and paediatrics.

Entry requirements

Scottish Higher: Standard BBBC, Minimum BCCC

A Level: CCC

Irish Leaving Certificate: H2 H3 H3 H3

International Baccalaureate: 28 points

International: IELTS of 6.0 with no element lower than 5.5

Required subjects: One science at Higher/A Level or equivalent, and English and Maths at Nat 5/GCSE.

Mature/Access: Related Access course – see our website for details at www.qmu.ac.uk/college-qualifications. We welcome applications from mature students with other relevant qualifications in sciences and/or experience.

Direct Entry: Not available. Relevant HN qualifications may be considered for entry to Year One.

Other requirements: A satisfactory criminal records check is also required.

Associate student places

N/A

Professional registration/ accreditation

This course is accredited by the Society and College of Podiatry and approved by the Health and Care Professions Council. Successful completion enables application for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Podiatrist which is essential for employment in the UK.

Special Information for EU Applicants: Previously EU students have had the cost of their tuition fees met by the Scottish Government. At the point of publication there is no information on whether this arrangement will continue for students starting their studies in 20/21. Updates will be posted on the QMU website when available.

Course Overview

Related Professional Bodies

A Student Story - more at foot of page

Daniel Pauley - BSc (Hons) Podiatry
“As a student of QMU, I am no longer overlooked - I am more than just a number. I have people who are 100% behind me and are helping me achieve my goals. This encouragement means I’ve developed a passion for learning and I always keep classes running late because I ask so many questions".
read my story...